Match Report
The table gap was wide: 34 points between Sichuan (1st, 69 pts) and Heilongjiang Lava Spring (9th, 35 pts). The last five rounds placed Jiangxi Dingnan United no better than 14th for form, against 9th in the standings. Scoring rates set the scale: Sichuan 1.7 scored and 0.63 conceded per game, Heilongjiang Lava Spring 1.4 and 1.33, with the league averaging 1.13.
Momentum sat with Sichuan, winners of their last 12, having scored in 12 consecutive games. Heilongjiang Lava Spring had not won in 9 games. From the last five rounds, Sichuan held 15 points of 15 and Heilongjiang Lava Spring 1.
The venue was Suining Sichuan Sports Center in Suining, with room for 27,000 spectators. J. Du officiated: 23 games logged, averaging 1.9 yellow cards each. On the scoreboard, it was 0-0 at the break; 2 second-half goals set the final 2-0.